Bit of a hint. As you may have discovered if one is defending, one doesn't conduct assaults. Yes, yes, I know, the best defense is a good offense, but this is the game, and you are doing a 'last stand' defense. Bad time to get aggressive But there are some things you can do to prolong the agony.

Be very careful about the 'posture' of your support units (anything that doesn't AV). Keeping them in Defend mode just makes them susceptible to the combat algorithm. And then, they can't provide the support that they could. HQs, AA Rgts, RAF Base units, Fortress units, have no business in the front line, so put them at Rest. They can still provide their services without getting knocked in the head, so Sup and AirSup will survive and keep your operational troops going a skoosh better.

Then there is 'rotation'. This one is a real bitch because it requires some knowledge of the other guy's forces. Rotation involves keeping back a certain percentage of your front line troops in a Rest posture. While they are there, and so long as the Sup units haven't got knocked in the head, they will recover; step-by-step. Then sub them back in for your most depleted "Defending" units and put those at Rest. This won't prevent the final debacle, but it just might flatten out the slippery slope to oblivion.

Btw, don't take the Combat Report as Gospel, but still look at it closely. 65,000 troops attacking might not really be 65,000 troops attacking. Well, maybe in this case it is, because CT Grog is assaulting with only assault capable units, but a lot of people just assault with a stack (100,000 troops attacking, of which 471 are capable of AV with an AV value of 13, woof!). You are playing a guy who understands wtfo. So I'll be watching and adding some more hints as appropriate.

To keep from accusations of fanboism or favoritism, hints can't be a priori, but must only be the result of what is seen in a turn. But the game takes a long time, and hints are generally applicable, so if the hints don't help ya now, maybe they will do so later.

And then again, I have some hints for Japan in my other pocket

Hi John,

Thanks for the tips, I take it you'll mosey on by both our AARs once in a while then? Great stuff if so, the LCUs at rest/reserve thingy I've always wondered about. You mentioned putting the support units on "reserve" (Like obvert, I'm also guessing it's reserve you mean, not rest), would the units still go into action when needed? Ie. will AA units still put up flak when bombers fly over? Will engineer units in support LCUs still contribute to fort/airfield/port construction? Never tried rotating the combat units before so that's something I'll try with the troops on Java and Palembang.

Totally get you on the limits of your help so no worries there, a couple of hints and observations here and there like this one above works for me. I've been meaning to put down some observations about playing the mod so I guess there's some feedback you can look at as well.

SWPAC Darwin is bombed by Betties again, am in the process of moving a squadron of P-40s up here to ambush them but it's slow going. Might work in my favour though, settling into a pattern makes people lazy and lets down their guard.

Sub War Sub launched float fighters sighted in the vicinity of Christmas Island and Horn Island

There's another I-boat just off Sydney, don't know if it's the same one from a couple of turns back or a new one, attempts to chase it off/sink it come to naught, have some DDs escorting some troopships that are coming into port, might detach them when they're done to see if they can kill the sub. Am very antsy about keeping too many ships near easy striking range of KB after the debacle at Darwin so lots of search planes in the air over SOPAC islands hoping to give some early warning of enemy movement.

Another I-boat takes a shot at an AVD travelling as part of a group of auxiliaries (stragglers from DEI/PI) off Brisbane but misses.

SWPAC Darwin is bombed by Betties again, am in the process of moving a squadron of P-40s up here to ambush them but it's slow going. Might work in my favour though, settling into a pattern makes people lazy and lets down their guard.

So true....

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"It happened, therefore it can happen again: this is the core of what we have to say. It can happen, and it can happen everywhere.” ¯ Primo Levi, writer, holocaust survivor

I might have done something stupid because the last turn because 7 B-10s lift off from Titsup (tjliatipup?) and attempt to strike shipping at Oosthaven, promptly running into more Zeroes than you can shake a stick at, none return home. Gotta love Charles Darwin.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Oosthaven at 48,96 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

I-26 continues to trail her coat just outside Sydney, she hasn't shot at anything important yet thank goodness but I don't like that she's snooping around there.

Lots of I-boats around Horn Island, 2 of them take shots at a resupply convoy bound for Darwin but nothing connects.

Mod Corner Going to start a little corner that will appear every so often, it will detail observations about playing DBB-C, most of it will be based on observations, throw in some gut feels, in short, nothing that can be backed up with evidence, take with a grain of salt.

Sydney expands to port size 9 this turn, that's starting from size 8 and 60 days from the start of hostilities, I reckon expansion started on something like the 2nd/3rd day? I don't have the game opened so I don't know exactly how many engineers I have working there, just putting it out here.

Also, I have to mention that the number of US Base Groups that start on the map are just insane, the mod is supposed to have fewer Aviation Points to go around than stock but I'm just swimming with Base Groups at the moment, 3 of them (72 AV each) grouped together with an air HQ is enough to hit the 250 AV limit, some judicious arrangement of base groups on CONUS has freed up quite a few of them for deployment across the Pacific while allowing me to setup what will be a size 9 airfield at Alameda for training reinforcement/restricted groups. I haven't taken a look at the reinforcement queue so I don't know if supply is forthcoming but as it stands right now I'm not in want of aviation support.

SWPAC Darwin is bombed by Betties again, am in the process of moving a squadron of P-40s up here to ambush them but it's slow going. Might work in my favour though, settling into a pattern makes people lazy and lets down their guard.

Stacking limits are quite annoying when you're transiting LCUs through to other points beyond, carefully built stockpiles evaporate into thin air just cos a traffic jam ensues in that particular hex for 2-3 turns before the transiting units move off. Apart from that minor annoyance the theatre is fairly quiet these past few turns although SIGINT tells a different story.

SWPAC KB is on the move again, CTG skirted my sub screen at Truk and search planes picked it up about a day and half's steaming north of Truk. I expect she's screening the Rabaul invasion force, if she comes south past Rabaul everything afloat from the Australian coast to Pago Pago is legging it to safer waters.

Sub WarKIX takes launches torpedoes at an xAK till she's winchester for no hits, pretty rare for a Dutch sub

An empty resupply convoy leaving Darwin for Perth is detected by Nells, this should be the first time CTG has caught on to traffic off the shores of northern Oz, the detected convoy *should* be out of range of the level bombers by the next turn and as a precaution I've order an inbound convoys both east and west of Darwin to pull up for a turn or two while waiting for the heat to die down.

A P-40 squadron is flying CAP over Darwin but the bombers haven't reappeared since the strike a couple of days ago, I'll be ready for him when he comes back though.

Rabaul is seeing a lot of activity, it looks like everything that was at Darwin plus the invasion fleet, KB is now withing easy striking distance of Rabaul but no attacks of any kind as yet. Rabaul might not be the only stop if I were him, question is will he turn towards Port Moresby or push to the end of the Solomons or even points beyond to Noumea?

Sub War Glugglugglug sounds make me pretty sure that S-38 breaks the no-hits streak that's been going on for a while by sinking the same xAK that KIX tried to sink the previous turn.

I had some SIGINT indicating heavy activity in Shanghai and put Searaven out there to see if she could snag anything, she detects a convoy coming out of Shanghai but is sighted by the escorts.

I've got 3 subs off Rabaul but they can't even get into position for a shot because the skies over KB are littered with Kates on ASW patrol. DLs for all 3 subs are 10/10

ORIGINAL: Arnhem Mod Corner Also, I have to mention that the number of US Base Groups that start on the map are just insane, the mod is supposed to have fewer Aviation Points to go around than stock but I'm just swimming with Base Groups at the moment, 3 of them (72 AV each) grouped together with an air HQ is enough to hit the 250 AV limit, some judicious arrangement of base groups on CONUS has freed up quite a few of them for deployment across the Pacific while allowing me to setup what will be a size 9 airfield at Alameda for training reinforcement/restricted groups. I haven't taken a look at the reinforcement queue so I don't know if supply is forthcoming but as it stands right now I'm not in want of aviation support.

Brilliant, Arnhem! Just what I'm looking for!

Yep, there's about 6 of those that show up through the end of '42 that need to be cut back and take replacements until they build to strength. The Groups at CONUS bases (the ones that have AAF Names, like Wendover, Elmendorf, etc..) are "supposed" to stay where they are, but I guess that wasn't very obvious. However, we've developed an interesting static device, for these and certain Japanese base infrastructure that will keep them from going out-about-town, as it were. Nothing that can be done for your present plethora of riches, but definitely something for the future.

Singapore Singapore is bombed by no ground attacks this turn, as clued in by JWE, I rested a couple of units just for fun (they're basically shot to pieces with most combat elements destroyed) and a couple get a nudge upwards in their AV.

DEI Aircraft sighted over Palembang.

An enemy convoy docks at Oosthaven, doubtless unloading reinforcements to backup 38th Div in the attempt to take Palembang. One more Dutch battalion joins the defenders of Palembang. I've got 2 more at least a week's march away. Apart from irregular bombings the garrison is untouched, I suppose Singapore will fall first before the full attention of the IJA/IJN turns towards Palembang.

I've got what looks like an invasion fleet a day's sailing from Koepang, I'm assuming that's the target. An A-24 squadron has been flown in from Java to see if it can pick up one or two transports, assuming Zeroes aren't LRCAPing the fleet.

Simultaneous landings at Cape Gloucester, Talasea and Kavieng. Rabaul and Lae are bombed by KB. I expect landings at Lae, Buna and perhaps Milne Bay shortly while on the other side of the Solomon Sea perhaps Shortlands and if CTG is feeling really confident perhaps Guadalcanal and even points further south? The initial wave of landings are one thing, it's how far and fast he pushes immediately after that would give some insight to how aggressive his expansion of the perimeter in this theatre will be.

Sub WarDolphin latches shoots and misses at an APD that looks like it's part of another invasion convoy, no idea where it's going, Dili/Lautern perhaps?

ORIGINAL: Arnhem Mod Corner Also, I have to mention that the number of US Base Groups that start on the map are just insane, the mod is supposed to have fewer Aviation Points to go around than stock but I'm just swimming with Base Groups at the moment, 3 of them (72 AV each) grouped together with an air HQ is enough to hit the 250 AV limit, some judicious arrangement of base groups on CONUS has freed up quite a few of them for deployment across the Pacific while allowing me to setup what will be a size 9 airfield at Alameda for training reinforcement/restricted groups. I haven't taken a look at the reinforcement queue so I don't know if supply is forthcoming but as it stands right now I'm not in want of aviation support.

Brilliant, Arnhem! Just what I'm looking for!

Yep, there's about 6 of those that show up through the end of '42 that need to be cut back and take replacements until they build to strength. The Groups at CONUS bases (the ones that have AAF Names, like Wendover, Elmendorf, etc..) are "supposed" to stay where they are, but I guess that wasn't very obvious. However, we've developed an interesting static device, for these and certain Japanese base infrastructure that will keep them from going out-about-town, as it were. Nothing that can be done for your present plethora of riches, but definitely something for the future.

Thank you. Ciao. John

Well, I did try to stay honest and leave the named base units where they were, after all, most of them have reinforcement groups coming throughout the duration of the game and it'd be a pita to have stranded air groups. I did move the 2 furthest inland (ie closest to Eastern USA), can't remember their names. I like the idea of making them static, that way there's no thinking about whether you should strip them from their assigned bases.

I think there are 6 Base Groups alone at March Field and since they could be bought out with PPs I figure they're fair game for deployment overseas. Were those meant to stay at home too?

ORIGINAL: Arnhem Well, I did try to stay honest and leave the named base units where they were, after all, most of them have reinforcement groups coming throughout the duration of the game and it'd be a pita to have stranded air groups. I did move the 2 furthest inland (ie closest to Eastern USA), can't remember their names. I like the idea of making them static, that way there's no thinking about whether you should strip them from their assigned bases.

I think there are 6 Base Groups alone at March Field and since they could be bought out with PPs I figure they're fair game for deployment overseas. Were those meant to stay at home too?

Di'na fash yer'sel Laddie. 'Twer my fault, 'twer my fault, 'twer my most grevious fault. If it's a "named" unit with a BF suffix, it was "intended" to stay home. If it's a Base Group (i.e., with a number, and no BF suffix) it can go wherever it pleases you (so long as you buy it out ). Nothing you have done is bad. Just a bit premature. But harmless in the long run.

Just fyi, and this is just the USAAF.

You get 683 squadrons; 564 come in with 12 – 27 planes (13 with more), of that, 198 come in with 12 – 15, 366 with 16 – 27. Roughly 11,280 planes (20/Sqdn) The game average is roughly 3.3 Sqdns/Group, (66 Planes/Group), suggesting roughly 171 Groups, with 66 AvSup per group, if perfect. But, you only get 73 deployable Base Groups, having 72 AvSup, “max”, which is 5250 AvSup, “max”, till 01/44, and upgrading to 96 AvSup, “max” which is 7000 AvSup, “max”, after that. So you average out to 50% AvSup during ’42 and ’43, and 70% AvSup during ’44 and ’45. So you see that, in the long run, things do tend to work out.

ORIGINAL: Arnhem Well, I did try to stay honest and leave the named base units where they were, after all, most of them have reinforcement groups coming throughout the duration of the game and it'd be a pita to have stranded air groups. I did move the 2 furthest inland (ie closest to Eastern USA), can't remember their names. I like the idea of making them static, that way there's no thinking about whether you should strip them from their assigned bases.

I think there are 6 Base Groups alone at March Field and since they could be bought out with PPs I figure they're fair game for deployment overseas. Were those meant to stay at home too?

Di'na fash yer'sel Laddie. 'Twer my fault, 'twer my fault, 'twer my most grevious fault. If it's a "named" unit with a BF suffix, it was "intended" to stay home. If it's a Base Group (i.e., with a number, and no BF suffix) it can go wherever it pleases you (so long as you buy it out ). Nothing you have done is bad. Just a bit premature. But harmless in the long run.

Just fyi, and this is just the USAAF.

You get 683 squadrons; 564 come in with 12 – 27 planes (13 with more), of that, 198 come in with 12 – 15, 366 with 16 – 27. Roughly 11,280 planes (20/Sqdn) The game average is roughly 3.3 Sqdns/Group, (66 Planes/Group), suggesting roughly 171 Groups, with 66 AvSup per group, if perfect. But, you only get 73 deployable Base Groups, having 72 AvSup, “max”, which is 5250 AvSup, “max”, till 01/44, and upgrading to 96 AvSup, “max” which is 7000 AvSup, “max”, after that. So you average out to 50% AvSup during ’42 and ’43, and 70% AvSup during ’44 and ’45. So you see that, in the long run, things do tend to work out.

I've got a stack of IJA LCUs in Nanyang and to top it off a critical supply situation as well. Been that way for the past 10 turns, just can't push enough supply forward to where I need it. We'll just have to see what kind of pain 1.7k AV behind level 2 forts can inflict.

Singapore Think CTG is becoming a little more than annoyed with my corner of the world.

Koepang was the target, the A-24s didn't take off so that's a wipe. Indomitable is 5 days sailing away, opportunity missed but I'll continue heading that way to see what turns up.

SWPAC Aircraft sighted over Sydney

Arawe, Gasmata and Rabaul are invaded this turn. Adding assaults from the previous wave, every location on New Britain has been landed on. Namatanai, a base just 1 hex east (true) of Rabaul is also taken this turn. Cape Gloucester and Talasea are under new management.

In other news I don't know if this is my imagination or the mod at work but merchies unloading at the smaller ports take *forever* to empty their holds, making the Port Maint Eng Bns worth their weight in gold.

[In other news I don't know if this is my imagination or the mod at work but merchies unloading at the smaller ports take *forever* to empty their holds, making the Port Maint Eng Bns worth their weight in gold.

That was my perception in the pre-update version of the game as well. I get so frustrated with this that I give priority to building the port to level 2 ahead of airbase development. What good is an air base if you can't land the supplies for it to operate! I think AKs are supposed to offload slightly faster than xAKs because they have on-board lighters to ferry in cargo. Trouble is, they are all so large they cannot dock at all so they lose any offloading advantage of docking. APDs can drop a small amount of cargo quite quickly.

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I have not yet begun to fight! OTOH I have not yet begun to flee. Hmmmmm - choices, choices -always with the choices.

[In other news I don't know if this is my imagination or the mod at work but merchies unloading at the smaller ports take *forever* to empty their holds, making the Port Maint Eng Bns worth their weight in gold.

That was my perception in the pre-update version of the game as well. I get so frustrated with this that I give priority to building the port to level 2 ahead of airbase development. What good is an air base if you can't land the supplies for it to operate! I think AKs are supposed to offload slightly faster than xAKs because they have on-board lighters to ferry in cargo. Trouble is, they are all so large they cannot dock at all so they lose any offloading advantage of docking. APDs can drop a small amount of cargo quite quickly.

AKA>AK>xAK but even then it just feels like everything's mired in mud, that said the handful of APs/AKs I have on the map at the moment do unload much faster than their civie counterparts, more so when in amphib mode so I guess everything is in it's proper place. I didn't convert the Clemson DDs to APDs in my other game but have started to do so for this one, not going out of my way to convert them as the process will take them out for nearly a month so the process is decidedly slow.

The speed bump at Toungoo is swept aside, looks like it's just a division(+) for the moment, if it's just the 33rd I intend to make it bleed badly enough to have CTG bring up reinforcements if he wants to close the Road.

Singapore The Fortress's engineers are doing stalwart service, pushing fort levels back to 1 immediately on the next turn after they've been reduced. I keep wondering if the 18th Div would have been profitably spent if I had sent them on as planned.

DEI The other invasion convoy was headed for Dili, Indomitable has dropped her DDs and is proceeding at flank with her escorting cruisers to Timor, it will take 2 turns to get in place and I'll drain her fuel bunkers but there's a chance at messing with his plans so I'm going to give it a go.

I'm torn between her keeping her in my back pocket for when the invasion of Java begins but I figure by the time that happens Singapore would have fallen as well as Palembang and most of Borneo including Balikpapan. This would mean the invasion would be well covered from the air and Indomitable is all by herself, by striking at the ships off Timor I might get a chance to get a quick stab in, the only risk I can forsee would be Betties out of Kendari. I have another turn before battle is joined so I'll make the final decision to get in close once I get the next turn. I've got a resupply convoy from Perth heading into Darwin, if they're spotted by Betties I might pull the CV back and bide my time.

SWPAC Namatanai, Gasmata and Arawe are captured this turn.

KB planes in action over Lae, Rabaul, Kavieng

CENPACCalifornia and West Virginia slip anchor at Pearl to return to CONUS for repairs and upgrades, Oklahoma is fully repaired and undergoing the first of her upgrades, the other 2 are still reducing system damage before making the trek back to the US for completion of repairs.

Nanyang attacked. The good news is the Chinese army came out on top for this round, the bad news is fort levels have dropped and I'm still in zero supply, the next round will hurt and I'm sure CTG will push it knowing that.

DEI Lost Dili this turn. Ground attack at Koepang but it's still holding. The invasion fleet is still offshore at Koepang and Indomitable will be in position to strike tomorrow, here goes nothing.

SWPAC Aircraft sighted over Sydney.

Rabaul and Kavieng fall. Southeast Area Fleet, a Base Force and a Naval Construction Bn were inserted as part of the Rabaul invasion force so it's going to be used as a hub for operations in the area, no big surprise there.

DEI Zeroes sweep Batavia today but there's nothing in the air to meet them. Also, Palembang is running low on supplies, have detailed supply flights out of Batavia to try and stem the bleed.

Sub War A good day for the subs, during the night pulse KXI torpedoes the Kinugasa Maru off Oosthaven, setting her ablaze. A little later on the day, her sister KX puts one into the side of Azuma Maru near Pontianak, also setting her ablaze, am putting these 2 down as probable kills due to glugglugglug sounds during the replay.

SIGINT China Expeditionary Army is planning for an attack on Wenchow. Southern Army is planning for an attack on Singapore. 7th Ind.Mixed Brigade is planning for an attack on Lanchow.

First 2 seem kind of pointless but I'll take a waste of time preparing prep points any way it comes. The last one is the stinger, in conjunction with the move on Nanyang it reinforces my hunch that CTG is making a move on the north and north west in a big way, trying to unhinge my MLR and come in the back way to Chungking through Kienko as it were. Stacking limits will come into play here once Nanyang falls and he has to move into the wooded and mountain hexes, it's because of this that I'm seriously considering cutting and running at Nanyang, the AV there will be useful in delaying the onslaught coming in from the central plains.

DEI A6Ms sweep Batavia again today. If I can hold out till March one of the Dutch squadrons will upgrade to P-40Es, as it is I'm building up stock to convert another to Hurricanes. Won't do much in the overall scheme of things but it's just nice converting my squadrons from flying death traps to airframes that will give my boys a fighting chance.

Singapore IJA doing a little bit of recovery, been quiet the past couple of turns, if I'm still here in another 3 days I will have matched historical performance.

Singapore We start off with the event of the day, Singapore capitulates, one of my better results for this particular hex. Lots of lessons learnt and hopefully kept in mind. I've got subs in the waters off Singapore in preparation for shipping traffic area in the area.

China Nanyang is shock attacked, I probably will be ejected the next turn, left it too late to cut and run. Looking at Tracker I still can't understand why supply dropped so drastically about 15 turns back.

Burma Oscars sweep Lashio, I had a squadron of AVG training there and luckily there weren't caught in the sweep. I've withdrawn the AVG for now and am concentrating all 3 squadrons in a bid to ambush the Oscars.

DEI A second wave of transports comes in and reinforces Koepang. Unfortunately Formidable is out of position and low on fuel so I won't even try running back.

In other news Major uh-oh moment here as KB drops out of sight, I'm going to start moving squishies away from the east coast of Oz and the SOPAC island groups till I'm reasonably sure it's not making a run south.

SIGINT 15th Army is planning for an attack on Meiktila. 2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment is planning for an attack on Darwin. 15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment is planning for an attack on Changsha. Paramushiro-jima airfield expanded to size 2.

I've had no reason to doubt SIGINT reports thus far, they've proven to be an indicator of CTG's intentions. It might be a setup but I cannot just not do anything. The 2nd Formosa was last seen on Luzon about a month ago game time. I presume it still is there. Will watch closely for any reports mentioning this unit, especially if it comes south or if additional forces are prepped for Darwin. Per our HRs Batavia and Soerbaja will have to fall before CTG can turn his attention on Oz.

In the meantime, the Australian 6th is 4 days out of Perth, that division will head for Darwin when it disembarks, the 7th has just loaded onto transports at Aden, I do not expect that division to reach home waters for another 2 weeks. The militia divisons have moved out to their assigned cities to help bring up fort levels. These cities are Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin and Sydney. Most of the armored battalions have moved north to cover points west of Darwin, the motorised brigades are covering other significant objectives like Cairns or being kept as strategic reserve together with the 5th Aus ID. HRs will compel me to give priority to the defence of Australia should it be invaded so I will be prepping at least 1, maybe 2 US divisions for service in Oz. The Americal Division and 2nd MARDIV(-), currently missing a regiment can also be pulled out of defensive duties in SOPAC should the need arise.

House rules pertaining to the invasion and defence of Australia - The Japanese player may only invade Australia once Timor, Ambon, Kendari, Mindanao, Batavia and Soerabaja are in Japanese hands and once he has saved a reserve of 3000 political points. These political points should be kept in reserve until (1) the capture of all ports in northern Australia (Port Hedland; Broome; Derby; Wyndham; Darwin) or (2) the capture of Perth, or Sydney, or Brisbane - IJA units invading Australia need a minimum of 80 preparation points (not needed for IJN units) - If Australia is invaded, the Allied player may not spend PPs on anything except sending forces to Australia by any means or medium, whether land or air force (with the exception of reassigning leaders)

China Nanyang is shock attacked but holds out fairly well for an out of supply stack. Lots of disabled squads though. The IJA stack at Wenchow is reinforced but the Chinese hold out for another day.

DEI Bombers start working over the airfields of Batavia and pretty much close it. I'm husbanding the glass cannon that is the Dutch airforce for the invasion fleets.

Koepang is attacked over the 2 days but holds out. The first of 2 garrison battalions has reached Djambi, it shock attacked over the river but casualties were light, the 2nd battalion should be a day behind, don't know whether I should try for an attack or just march on through to Palembang.

China Odd combat result, Japanese AV got knocked way down and casualties on both sides were very light for a shock attack. Apart from Nanyang and Wenchow there hasn't been much activity on the other fronts, am still concerned about Lanchow but I've got 900+ AV there now. The 2 corps of Chinese troops detailed to help the British hold Lashio are on route, there are another 2 corps that will reach Paoshan in about 2 weeks time.

DEI Batavia has been emptied of airplanes, hope CTG continues bombing and doesn't check his recon. Koepang still stands, Indomitable has her bunkers topped up and will be in the area in case CTG feels the need to reinforce here.

I imagine most of the Japanese activity here would be to straighten things out in Singapore and get the port and airbase operational again. With KB and most of the heavies off PM I'm expecting maybe mini KB to cover the landings in Java. I have 2 redoubts Bandeong and Tjilatap that have been setup, looking at the stacking limits, I should have perhaps concentrated all my forces at the latter instead of the former but Bandeong is mountainous so the defensive bonus should count for something.

SWPAC Port Moresby receives the undivided attention of the IJN battle line. I'm expecting KB to sweep south towards Sydney and maybe loop east around Suva before returning to Truk after it's done covering the PM operation.

CENPAC Tabi is taken by an SNLF, I'll have to keep tabs on this place, it's where I would have preferred to start prying open CTG's defence of the Central Pacific. However, falling into a pattern is death so I'll be relooking at how to make life miserable for CTG when the time comes.

Changsha is pretty well defended and fortified and I'm sure CTG knows that it is, however from reading other AARs I'm also sure the IJA in China has enough combat power to make for a really good go for it, I have a War Area's worth of LCUs prepped for Changsha that isn't in the hex so plenty of warm bodies to pad the road to oblivion on my side.

China Finally ejected from Wenchow, the surviving units will try to make for friendly lines.

DEI Zeroes continue sweeping Batavia. Palembang supply levels are dropping, I thought it had some organic self sustaining refining capacity? Or was it fixed in DBB? Lautern (hex next to Dili) falls this turn. And in Djambi, the casualties make it look like both sides are fighting each other with soft pillows. Palembang is reconned by fire.

SWPAC Port Moresby is invaded and falls to the IJA's 4th Division over the past 2 turns. Foregone conclusion really, only mentionable is the shore defences do well enough to hurt a merchie or two quite badly.

Sub War Today's Allied sub drat moment goes to Salmon, she duds on a small TK outside of Cam Ranh Bay.

S-40 stumbled on this just outside Singapore, I can't figure out if it's coming into or out of Singapore, if it's coming out then I'm guessing Batavia is the target, only logical conclusion when taking into account KB's move west from PM instead of south to Sydney or east back to Truk. Pretty odd TF configuration to boot, what are those merchies carrying that needs that kind of close protection?

Addendum In case you're wondering why about that comment on KB in the last section, if you will recall, KB was just off PM on the 17th, I expected it to move south for a sweep of ANZAC waters after PM had fallen but the morning of the 18th finds it 1 hex off Horn Island in the Torres Straits and heading west. Taken together with that odd looking TF S-40 stumbled on, I can only assume the invasion of Java is imminent. With the capture of Singapore port, KB will have a port that can support it's logistical requirements in that part of the rapidly expanding Empire so that's another reason to go west right there.

Since KB this way comes, I can only assume CTG will bomb Darwin for old time's sake, I've got nothing worth mentioning there so he's welcome to it, I've got a small convoy of 3 small merchies that might get caught up if they can't make port and disband in time otherwise everything else is well out of range and going the other way. Formidable will move well out of the neighbourhood but will stay close enough to see if it can pounce on an unprotected target as KB passes.

Where are the carriers? KB, preceeded by the IJN heavies, is now NNE of Darwin and proceeding west at a stately pace. I expect it to be off Java in about 4 days time if it continues at this pace. The American CVs are on the move.

Sub War O 23 just outside Singapore stalks and kills Manzyu Maru putting 1 fish each into her side over 2 successive attacks. Good start to the turn.

But no, the gods decide to be cruel and an I-boat (or two, can't be sure about I-boat pennant numbers, intel on them is always screwy) stalks an unescorted merchie group just outside Melbourne and sinks a small xAP, an xAKL, a large xAK and a TK (a big one, the Pan Scandia - 9,700t). Much cursing and swearing ensued, this group of merchies were survivors from the Darwin debacle and having them sunk so close to port after surviving so much really bites. I have no ASW assets nearby to prosecute the subs, every little Aussie AM is out and about escorting merchies near the front lines or other high value merchies/auxiliaries.

China Nanyang is attacked again this round, the defenders should be out of the hex by the next turn, they're scattered to the 3 winds due to stacking limits, probably a good idea as any pursuers would have to split up as well.

DEI Koepang falls, that's a level 4 AF so just about everything that sails along the north coast of Australia is now under threat from Betties once that airfield becomes operational.

SWPAC Darwin's port is visited by Betties and KB, sinking 3 minor ships in the process.

Sub War Heavy activity by Allied subs and IJN ASW in the waters off Singapore but no significant damage is sustained or inflicted by either side. The Oh-Come-On award for the day goes to Snapper, who fires her entire load of torpedoes at an xAK, plenty of hits but not a single fish works. Many soiled pants on that Maru tonight.

SIGINT SS I-6 is moving to Kwajalein Island (132,115). 14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment is planning for an attack on Changsha. 6th Division is planning for an attack on Changsha. 4th Ind.Mixed Regiment is planning for an attack on Nanning.

China and DEI Bombardments at Nanyang and Palembang. In Burma, I am trying to stay as close to historical as possible when it comes to Chinese LCUs committed to crossing the border with Burma to aid in Lashio's defence, the 5th Corps is just outside Lashio and will stay there till contact is made at which time it will move into Lashio to aid in it's defence. I'm trying to surprise CTG as I'm counting on him not doing recon of non-base hexes. The 6th Corps is coming up from Tuyun while the 66th Corps is at Nanning and will stay there, it's slated to withdraw in about a year anyway, will detail another corps to replace it. That would leave me free to committ one last corps for a total of 4 corps as dictated by HRs regarding deployment of Chinese combat units in Burma. Chinese Expeditionary Force

SWPAC KB raids Darwin again but this time the equivalent of a full strength P-40 squadron rises up to meet them. Over the course of the morning and afternoon I lose 16 Warhawks in exchange for what Tracker claims are 8 Zeroes and Vals each and a Kate. Here's a look at the afternoon attack and what's left in Darwin. Van Ghent didn't stand a chance, she had just repaired from 98 to 97 system damage when KB showed up.

Sub War An RO boat camping Noumea port might have caught on to the location of at least one of my CV's, Yorktown's screen did it's job and the sub never did manage to catch a look at the flattop but one look at a USN CA/DD TF in '42 and you know it's got to be screening a CV.

China Changsha reaches fort level 6. Nanyang is bombarded, about half of the defenders have exited the hex and the other half should be following suit in a day or two.

The remnants of the defenders of Loyang are attacked and pushed back on the road to Sian by the IJA's 36th Division, given they're a spent force, am going to let them die on the road to buy me some time.

DEI Unescorted Betties raid Soerbaja, let's see them try that again next turn. Palembang is bombarded yet again, I don't suffer any casualties but I suspect CTG is doing it to make me burn supplies? The supply situation in Palembang has stabilised due to supplies being flown in by air from Java but I'm diverting precious training time from my level bombers in order to do so, give some, take some.

The Japanese paratroopers at Djambi decide it's their turn to go on the attack.

So here's the thing As you can see from the screenshot below the invasion force that dropped the IJA's 4th Division at PM is still there, a mouseover of the hex indicates the port suffered 95% damage so I'm guessing the already slow unload process is compounded by the damaged port, no other LCUs seem to be present except for the assaulting unit so I guess it's a case of too much teeth, not enough tail.

Anyways, the idea was for the American CVs to sneak up on PM and bomb the TF there to kingdom come and then perhaps raid the Solomon Sea and it's environs for follow on forces for the area coming down from Truk before legging it out of there, all this while KB was busy in the DEI.

I do not know if the RO boat spotting Yorktown's TF at Noumea has made CTG respond to it by turning KB around or was it CTG's plan all along to turn around after bombing Darwin, whatever the case, at least 4 CVs are making their way back east with 54 fighters and 72 bombers. What do those numbers correspond to? Am I dealing with the CVLs and CVEs here? Mouseover indicates 4 CVs. My other CVs haven't been detected as far as I know and it could be that CTG is coming for what he thinks is 1 deck.

If recon doesn't show more decks in another TF and it's just 4 of them I'm tempted to give battle to those 4 CVs coming back down the Torres Strait, I fancy my chances with my 108 fighters and 144 bombers vs his, what do you guys think? In the meantime, the CVs have been ordered to halt their northward advance and close to the Australian coast near Townsville while I wait to see what the next turn's naval search reveals.

So come on peanut gallery, whatchu gonna do if you were me? Fight or flee?

Are all of your bombers Dauntlesses? Are all of your fighters Wildcats? Are they all fully qualified in carrier ops or are some of them Marine units recently empbarked and not yet fully ready? If the answer to all those questions is 'yes', I still only give a 50/50 chance of coming out even on the exchange. In Feb. 42 his fighters are just too good and too numerous. If you want to try some early attrition and damn the cost, take the gamble. Personally, I wouldn't tackle KB in 1942 without a 4-2 advantage in carriers [or aircraft] and good AA support.

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I have not yet begun to fight! OTOH I have not yet begun to flee. Hmmmmm - choices, choices -always with the choices.